Equalizing mechanism



Aug. 28, 1934. I E. F. MULLER EQUALIZING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l [/vvE/v TOR Ernsf FMu/lerr a .z w

E. F. MULLER 1,971,949

EQUALIZING MECHANISM I Filed Jan. 14. 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 28, 1934.

Aug. 28, 1934. E F, MULLER 1,971,949

EQUALIZING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 14. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [NVENTOF [Fr/757* F Mu//er."

Patented Aug. 28, 1934 UNlTED srArss i 1.971.959 v .EQUALIZING MECHANlSM ErnstF. Muller, Columbus, Ohio, assignor'to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, Columbus,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 14, 1931, Serial No. 508,751 19 Claims. 01. eca -2s) The present invention relates to equalizing mechanism for maintaining the parallelism of twolparallel members of which one is "movable toward and away from the other.

While the invention is of general application, I shall describe it in connection'with a mining machine wherein means are provided for moving an elongated cutter bar toward and away from a supporting element to position the bar in the desired working planes. Assuming the cutter bar to be positioned for cutting in a horizontal plane, the equalizing mechanism to be described assures the maintenance of the cutter bar against angular deviation from such plane and assures translational movement of the cutter bar when the latter is being adjuste to anotherplane. V I c The application of the invention to amining machine has given rise to certain novel changes 1 in mining machine structure which also form a part of the present invention.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of amachine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine of Figure 1; Figure 3 isa section'on line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3; ggand 4 Figure 5 is a section on line 5?5offFigure3.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 110 designates generally a wheel mounted truck adapted to be propelled over amine track by means of a motor 11. Mounted at the forward end of the truck on vertically adjustable pedestals 12, 13 and-14 is a ring 15 carrying rollers 16 projecting somewhat above thetop edge of the ring to rotatably support a turn-table 1'7. Mounted in a recess in the top of the turn-table is a reversible motor 18 here shown as'i an "electric 'motor.

Mounted in a vertical bearing sleeve 19 intersecting the axis of the-armature shaft 20 of the motor, is a shaft 21 provided with a thrust flange 22 bearing on a thrust bearing 23 in a recess 24 at the top of the bearing sleeve. A bevel gear 25 keyed to shaft 21 below sleeve 19 is engaged by armature pinion 26 for driving 50 shaft 21. Fixed on the hub of gear 25 isan eccentric 27 engaged by strap 28 which through suitable pawl and ratchet mechanism (not shown) is adapted to drive the clutch'cont rolled drum 29 mounted on'the turn-table. A draft 55 device 30 is adapted to bereaved in either direction about sheaves mounted on the platform and-its free end anchored as at 31, whereby in the desired direction. This turn-table swinging mechanism is well known in the art and consequently does not require particular description here. As is further customary, the edge of the turn-table is provided with notches as at .31 adapted to be engaged by a locking lug to maintain the turn-table in the angular adjustment. I

-Revoluble on the upper .end of shaft 21 is a sprocket wheel. 32 having a hub provided with desired position of peripheral teeth 33, similar teeth .34 being provided on an expanded portion of shaft 21 above teeth 33. A ring 3 5 has internal teeth adapted to engage teeth 33 and 34 when the latter are in'register so thatrotation of shaft 21 will be imparted to sprocket wheel 32. A screw 36 threaded in an axial bore in the upper end of shaft 21 revolubly supports disc 37 to the lower margins of which ring is fastened. A hand wheel 38 is fixed .to theupper extremityof screw 36 audit will beevident that upon rotation of Projecting from the turn-table in radial relation to sleeve 19 is an arm' 39which is designed to support. the cutter bar" andits driving and adjusting mechanism. -A frame-or head generally designated at 40, Figure 1, has an arm 41 overlying arm 39 and provided with slots 42 through' which bolts42' are passed into threaded boresof arm 39 to secure the two. arms together.

"Due to the elongation of slots 42, the two arms may be longitudinally adjusted upon loosening the bolts '50 as to alter the distance between sprocket wheel 32 and the head 40, the two arms thus. constituting in effect a single telescoping arm. .Mounted in a non-rotatable nut 43 in a vertical web portion of the head is a cap screw 44 whose head is adapted to abut the end of arm 39 to hold the head in adjusted position.

'Upon loosening the-connections between arms S9 and 41 and rotating screw 44 to move it out- 'wardly of nut 43 movement of the head away tensioning of the draft device through rotation of: the drum is effective to'swing the turn-table I taining nut 58.

engaged in the threaded end of an ;elong ated provided with a vertical bore in which is mounted a screw 56, the screw havin'g 'a 'fpolygonal head 5'7 at its lower end.engaged ina mating recess in the frame whereby r; at'ipn' he'screw relative to frame 55 is prevented. above the frame, screw 56 is providedwith are- The upper end of screw 56is nut 59 which is journaled in a sleeve bearing .69 p ov ed ina webfiltof head/0. Hie uppe igitudinally extending" slot 77. 'memblerag'li journaled inlthe .side. Wall 479 of the 7 head i. t is provided internally of the head with .an'ieccentric pin i 80 engaging linslot 7'7 and "externally of "the headwith an operating lever From .the above, it will Joe 7 evident .that gear ene ,of nu 59riseuided=by aninternallyproiec ins shoes ,62 oformedtin the rover plate-r63 .of th head. ;A spur -,gear.6.1 engaging gear :18 isfreely revoluble on the .npper ,cylindrical .,.portion Jof downward displacement. of the nut.

. :Thahu'bI of clutch element 66 is provided with aperipheralfgroovefie in whichismounted .a ring 10 carrying trunnion pins 7'11 and '72, Figure 15.

,Thetrunnionmpins are vengaged in apertures .in the twin arms :73 and 'T4Jofa shifting lever 75, lever 75 beingpivotally mounted and connected with. the h ad at one .endibymeans of a; pin 76 andbeine, provided at itsopposite end with a lon- A cylindrical 'fi illoeingrotated, 'nut 59 may .be 'rotatedrelative to screw 56 through operation of handle 811110 engagelolutch elements 65'.andl 66, screw-56 in its consequent longitudinal displacement carrywithpit frame 55. It will be recalled that motor ll8ris reversibleso thatnutv59 mayibe driven in either fdirectionto raise .orlower frame on .a circumferentially "shouldered portion of -blo ck 83 areia pair of semi-circular segments 86 and 87 whose margins overlie ring ,82ito afford a thrust-bearing for, block 83. The block is flanged as at '88 beneath "ring 282 to prevent upwarddisplacement. I J, l l @B1ock83 is provided with a vertical .bore extendine upwardly -.,throue t ck port n 83' and providing azbearingafor a,s1eeve 89 radially expanded, atitsutop for thrustjsupport upon the upper edge of-neck;83". :Keyed to the lower end a of ,sl'eeve .89 and secured-(thereon by .meanslof 1a 1 1 ,Cap screw 90 and washer .9118 a. cutter. chain drive Immediately sprocket 92 engaging the cutter chain 93 to drive it in the usual manner. Shaft 47 is provided with longitudinally extending grooves as at 94 slidably mating with longitudinally extending ribs 95 formed in the internal walls of sleeve 89 at its upper end Figures 3 and 4. The telescoping shaft and sleeveform a drive connection between gear 48. andsprocket 92 in all positions of vertical adjust'ment of'frame 55.

Block 83 is provided with an arcuate rib 96 en- Q gaging in an arcuate guideway 96 formed on the underside of frame 55 between ring 82 and screw 561" h'slliereshown, rib 96 is provided with a proj e c.t in g f1ange 97 engaged in a recess 98 of the fram", slower face of the flange resting on 1 H wefiwall' ofthe recess to provide additional "support .fo'rblock 83. In assemblingthe parts, ltllerib and fiange are swung into the arcuate guideway and recess from a position in which the deter bar extends somewhat rearwardly relative i w rem 55- its-npperehdflpih 100 ,is provided withfa cirilrii iiential'frecess102 which receives a ring 103 metrically opposite ,trunnion pins 104 vland105 Qengagedby a shifting yoke 106 which is '1 a'rock shaft loljournale'd onlframe jectiii'g to one side thereof. At' its free ft'lilt'fhas vsecured thereto a lever 108, "springi'lnebeingniounted on the shaft id igjto swinglthe shaft in such direction oas tolh d'pin ,100' in its lower position asshown in I .e 3flwherein itlis adaptedvto pr'ojectinto a registering apertureQQQ. QBy lifting the pin through manipulation of lever 108', block :83 rn ay be swung .and the pin engaged in another aperture tolockfthe cutter bar in a differentpo'sition .or;angu1ar adjustment relative to the head. o The position of screw 56is preferably 50 chosen relativ e to the. weight of frame 55,' block 83,' and rthejcutter ,b aruthat when the cutter bar extends iinpqauaraaam to the head as showninl Figiire 'I;"the screw'is at substantially the center of gravity ,of. the combinedsuspended elements. Due to' this disposition of parts, there is a minimum binding tendencybetween the screw and nut, be- .twe Qsha'ftA'I and sleeve,89,.and between lugs 53, 4, and guides 51; 52. To overcome allfdistortive; tendencies, however, I have provided the 'clian'is'mjwhich willfnowbe described. JoiirnaledfinIt'heside walls of headA'O adjacent ,thettop thereof are a pair: of transversely extending 'parallel sh'afts .1 10'and 111. Shaft 110.has .dl thereonpinions..,ll2and 113, one at each sidepfjthe head,,while the shaft 111 has similarlylfigged thereon pinions l l i and 115, the four opinions lying at the corners tofga parallelogram. Qutwardly of pinions .113 and 115, shafts andiilhave f xed thereon sprockets llfi sand 117' respectively, the sprockets being connected .by means of a chain 118 adapted tobesuitably tensionemthrough an adjustableslide 119 engaging ethetuppc irun. i h hainwErames55 1Figurele, is provided adjacent lugs 53 and 54 with outwardlyextending lugportions l20 and -1 2l tot which are pivoted through co- ,ai ial cap scre ws 122 and 123, a pair of racks 124 and; 125which; extend upwardly and engage pin- ;ions 112 Vand 113 respectivelybeing held in en- ,gagernent therewith by the clips oribrackets 126 laQndJlQhEieJ-u 1.

At its foltward,end-,. gframe 355 is'provided with a. yoke. shaped of rib .128 terminating in knuckles 129 and 130 to which are pivoted through bolts 131 and 132, a pair of racks 133 and 13 4 whichextend upwardly into engagement with 'pinions 114 and 115 respectively. Racks 133 and 13 4 are maintained in engagement with their associated a, longitudinally extending axis. Any'such dis-- tortive tendency, however, is at once equalized through the racks. For example, a di'stortive tendency transmitted through pinions 113- and 115 is transmitted thereby through shafts 110 and 111 and pinions 112 and 114 to racks 124 and 133 so that the latter racks-are influenced to the same extent and in the same direction as the racks on the opposite side of the head. Due to this equalizing force, the distortive tendency is entirely overcome. 7

Similarly, a distortive tendency'exerted about the transverse axis of frame is transmitted from one of the shafts and 111 to the other through the sprocket chain so that the position of frame 55 is not affected.

The same effects are secured upon vertical adjustment of the frame, the racks interacting to enforce purely translational movement of the.

frame. I

By the described mechanism, it will be seen that under no circumstances can there be a binding between the guiding and adjusting means for the frame 55 and the telescoping drive connection for the cutter chain.

Head 40 projects to a very slight degree above turn-table 1'7 which'itself is mounted in a low lying plane. The machine can be run into spaces restricted as to height wherein vertical adjustment of the turn-table would be impossible, and

vertical adjustment of the cutter bar can be ob-' tained through adjustment of frame 55, the cutter bar being adapted to be lowered, if desired,

-I claim: 1. The combination with two substantially parallel members of which one'is di'splaceable toward and away from the other, and means operable to effect displacement of the displaceable member, of equalizing means exclusive of said-first named means and comprising'a pair'of parallel shafts journaled inone of said members in parallel relation to the other, a sprocket Wheel fixed ,..on each shaft, a chain connecting said sprocket Wheels, a pair of spaced pinions fixed on each shaft, the pinions being positionedas at the corners of a parallelogram, andracks pivoted .to said other member as at the corners of a parallelogram. substantially equal to that above mentioned,

one of saidracks said pinionsr 2. In a machine of the class described, a horizontally projecting arm, a cutter bar supporting frame'beneath said arm and substantially parallel thereto, means for adjusting said frame to- Ward and away from saidarm, and equalizing means exclusive ofsaid adjusting means acting on said frame ata plurality of spaced points to maintain the parallelism of the frame to the arm in all positions of adjustment relativethereto.

. 3. Ina machine of the class described, a horizontally projecting arm, a cutter bar supporting frame beneath said arm and substantially parallel theretoymeans for adjusting said frame towardand away from said arm, and means oper-' ated in consequence of movement of the frame relative to the arm and acting on said frame at points adjacent its front and rear ends to maintain the parallel relation of the two members.

4. In a machine'of the class described, a hori zontally projecting arm, a cutter bar supporting frame beneath said arm and substantially parallel thereto, means for adjustingsaid frame toward and away from said arm, a plurality of means exclusiveof saidadjusting means interposed between the arm and frame and connected to the latter at spaced points, and a connection between said last named 'means rendering them mutually reactive to distortive forces applied to the frame whereby to maintain thelatter in parallelism with the plane of the arm.

5. In a machine of the class described, a horizontally projecting arm, a cutter bar supporting frame beneath said arm and substantially parallel thereto, means for adjusting said frame toward and away from said arm, equalizing means exclusive of said adjusting means and comprising a plurality of rod-like elements connected at one end to the frame, guide means on the arm for the being engaged with each of other ends of said rod-like elements, and a connection including rotary transmission means between'said otherends of said rod-like elements,

said connection rendering said elements'm'utually reactive to distortive forces applied to the frame whereby to maintain the latter in parallelism with the arm.

6. In a machine of the class described, a horizontallyextending arm, a cutter bar supporting frame beneath said arm and substantially parallel thereto, a pair of parallel horizontal shafts journaled in said arm, a pair of 'pinions fixed in spaced relation on each of said shafts, substantially vertical-racks engaging said pinions, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of said racks to said frame, gearing" connecting said shafts, screw and nut suspension 'means between said arm and frame, and means for relatively adjusting the screw and'nut for vertically displacing the frame.

7, In' a machine of the class described, a horizontally extending support, a frame beneath said support and parallel thereto; a cutter bar projecting'from said frame, suspension meansbetween the support and frame supporting the frame for verticaladjustmentrelative to the supiio'i port, guide means comprising rigid means de- Y pending from'ithe support and presenting a vertical guideway and means on the frame remote from said suspension unit slidably engaged with said guideway, said guide means serving'to hold the frame against rotary movement relative. to the'support about a vertical axis, and'equalizing guide means'and'acting on said frame at a plurality of spacedpoints thereon to maintain the means exclusive of said'suspension means and jecti-ng,- from .said frame, screw and-nut suspenall zontally extending; ,suplwrtga framev beneath said support and parallel thereto, aicutter barprojectingfrom said frame, screw .andnut suspension. meansbetween the support and Afr-ame and oper-- ableto adjustthe latter verticallyrelative to thev form e r,, interengaged guide-,means presented by againstrotary movement relative to the former abouta vertical, axis, and equalizing, meansexthe, support and frame and -holding,the-latter elusive of ,said suspension means. and guide means andactinglon saidframe atla plurality, of spaced ment{i"elative,thereto,.

zontally extending support, a frame-beneath said 94 jecting from said, frame suspension 7. means; be-

points thereonto maintain the/parallelism .of the" frame to the support in all positions, of,adjustsupport 'andparallel; thereto, aicutter barpro-' tween the supportand frame ,-,-supportingi the frame for vertical adjustment relative to the support; guide means comprisingfligid. means; de-

gs pendingtfrom thesupport andpresentinga verti 'calguideway and qmeansyon; tiles-frame, [remote w from saidsuspensionunit slidab1y engaged with said guideway, said guide; means serving to hold the frameagainst rotary movement relative to ralityv of spaeed points' thereon: to maintain the parallelismof zthe-frarneito the, support in all posi -tions of adjustment ,relativetheret said ,equaliz- "in gmeans comprising a painof parallel horizontal shafts;journaledeinsaid support, a pairof .pi nions fixedsin-spacedrelation on each ,of said shafts,v

substantially, vertical-racks; engaging said pinions,

4'0, ,with -their upper ends andhavingttheir lower endsin; connection with the ,frame, and gearing connecting said shafts. Y

10. ,In a machine ofthaclassdescribed;3 horia,

zontally;fextendingisupport, a framebeneath said support and parallel thereto,--a; cutter bar prosion means between the support and frame jand operable to; adjust .thelatter vertically relative to the former, interengaged guidemeans presented ,by;, thesupport and frame and holding thelatter againstrotary movement relative-to the former:

ment relative thereto, said equalizing means com prising a pair Jofvparallel horizontal shafts jourv naled in said support, a pair; of pinions fixed fin.v

spaced--relation-, ,on each of:.-,sai d--,s hafts,isubstant a11v verti al rack ns s ss da n onsr with their upper ends and; having ,their lower ends in 7 connection with the: frame; and gearing; connect ina idsha v 'zontally e extending {-support,} a :frame; beneath said-1 supp ativ lt l th r er, suidetmeans.ccm risingiriga id means depending, fromlthezsupportrand iprea 11;. Inga machine of the classedescnibedeahori- V and-parallel-thereto,9a cutter; bar.- projecting from said framergscrew andinut 51157. Dension-;means between the isupportwand frame ,andpperable to; adjust, the latter= vertically rel- 1 frame for guiding, saidsupplemental frame in its;

enti-ngta ;verticalz=-. guidewayt and :meanson :the

frame vremote; from; saidzisuspension :unit 1 slidably serving $3 0. holdthe-- frame against ,rotarymove ment relative to the 'zsupport about avertical? axis, and; equalizinglmeans exclusive of said suspension means iandfguide means andacting on; saidlframe at a plurality ofspaced .pointsthere on tov ,maintainthe parallelism of ;.the A frame-tothe, ,supportsin; all positions of, :adiustmentrelati'ye'theretdz 7,

. 12. In,a machine of the class described, a hori zontally,extending support, a frame beneath-said; support; tandtparallel thereto; a, cutter bar pro-s jecting, a from;E said i frame; screw and nut suspen- Siam-means between, the --supp ort and frame; and operablez to adjust the latter vertically -relative gto {them former, guide; means :comprising rigi'di 99 meansdependingfrom the support andpi'esent n ing a,ivertical-guidewayand means-on the-"frame 9., In-a machine of-rthe class described,- a .horiremote-:from "said suspension -unit-s1idably:. en gaged with" said guideway said -guide-means serving-,to hold theframe against rotary move-, ment relative to the support about a- ,vertical axis equalizing means exclusive of said suspensionimeansq-and guide means and acting on'said' frame, at; a pluralityof' spacedpoints thereon-mo 'maintain the parallelisinof.the frame to the-sup 190 port in all positions of adjustment relative'thereto, said equalizing means comprising-a ipairrof parallelhorizontal shafts journaledvin ,said supe port, a, pair,;-tof -p inions.- fixed in spaced relation on each of said shafts, substantially vertical .1 5 racks engaging :saidpinions with theirupper ends and. having their lower; ends: in connection ,vvith theframe, and gearing; connecting said: shafts:

13.: In a miningmachiney-the combination with: atruck adapted to travelalong a mine-:track,i.of-1m as lpportingzframemounted on said truckto have a i'elativelyalow-z overall 1 height-,5 a motor at thetop, of 1 the-saidframe, :and- 1 power-transmission meansnbetween-saidmotorand said .kerf-cutten-z to-drive thesameand adjust the position thereof. 113,; relative tQ-said; frame, {said power; transmission 1- meansgpomprisinga V train-cf sprocket and aspur gearing substantially at the top of the said frame: and all-operating ,on vertical axesr, 7

14. ;In amining machine; the combination with: In a supporting; frame-,4 of, a cuttenbar-pivoted there-i to for: anglgllan adjustment; means. for-,-locking-. said; cutten bar ;in adjusted; angularposition; and ans-open ended arcuate interlocking; connection--- between said cutterbargandsaid frame for com,- 1251 pelling, isaid cutterrbari t move-bodily with ,said: frameuwhen :the: latter: .isrmoved-v at: right angles: to the plane of said cutter bar. 3

15. :1 In a mining machine, the; combination with a supporting framel-ofi a. cutter bar pivoted there i 1 to -,apin von: :said frame adapted to: extend into; any; one ofoa plurality 01" holes, in said: cutter bar c; to:.;hold':the: latter in adjustednangular,position, andramarcuatei interlocking-tongue and groove ii connection between said frame and said cutter,--. bar to compel the latter to move bodily with said framewhem-the latter is movedat rightangles to theplaneof said cutter -bar, said connection havinsa penend 7 7 16.. Inaminingmachine, the combinationwith. on a supporting frame of a chain-carrying. cutter bar, a supplemental. frame carrying. said. i cutter bar; and ,movable irelative to. said supporting, frame inna direction.- at right anglesto the;plane I ofsaid-i, cutter bar, 1 means on; said: supporting movementmrelative, tothe. supporting frame,

; means: for: drivinggthetchain :on :said :cutter= bar,-

; mechanism :fom adjusting the; position 1 :of; saida i'engaged with zsaiduguidewaypsaidnguide imeans. cutter bar: by moving-ithe; same-g along..:said.sups"'l50;'

porting frame, and equalizing mechanism between said frames to prevent binding when said frames are moved relatively to each other.

17. In a machine of the class described, a horizontally extending arm, a frame spaced from said arm, a cutter bar projecting from said arm, a telescopic drive shaft for the cutter bar extending between said arm and frame, drive gearing for said shaft extending along said arm and closely confined to the vicinity thereof, means for adjusting said frame toward and away from said arm comprising screw and nut elements extending between said arm and said frame on an axis parallel to the axis of said shaft and spaced from the latter toward the free end of said arm, and drive means for one of said elements including intermeshed gears coaxial with said shaft and said elements respectively, and disposed immediately adjacent said arm, said drive means also including clutch means.

18. In apparatus of the class described, a cutter bar support, mounting means for a cutter bar pivoted to said support, said support having an arcuate ledge thereon concentric with the pivoting axis of said mounting means, said ledge having a face in a plane at right angles to said pivoting axis, and radially projecting means on said mounting means engaging said face for the support of said mounting means, said projecting means being movable in contact with said face during swinging movement of said mounting means relative to said support throughout a certain range and being disengageable from said face when the mounting means is swung beyond said certain range whereby to permit "disengagement of said mounting means from said support by a movement along its pivoting axis.

19. In apparatus of the class described, a cutter bar support, mounting means for a cutter bar having a journal portion received in a bearing formed in said support, the mounting means being swingable relative to said support about the axis of said journal portion, said support having an arcuate ledge thereon concentric with said axis, said ledge having a face in a plane at right angles to said axis, and radially projecting means on said mounting means engaging said face for the support of said mounting means, said projecting means being movable in contact with said face during swinging of said mounting means relative to said support throughout a certain range and being disengageable from said ledge when the mounting means is swung beyond said certain range whereby to permit disengagement of said mounting means from said support by a movement along its pivoting axis.

'ERNST F. MULLER. 

